NB: as of 23 September 2008, all new artSMart articles are being published on the site news.artsmart.co.za.

THE ART OF BUSINESS SPONSORSHIP
(article first published : 2004-04-27)

Business and Arts South Africa, in collaboration with Business Day, launched awards for business sponsors of the arts in this country in 1997, to recognise and highlight businesses who make effective and innovative use of arts sponsorship and, in so doing, lift the profile of the arts.The seventh series of awards reflects a growing awareness within the business sector of promotional and marketing opportunities afforded through arts sponsorship.

KZN organisations were featured among the nominees.

Best Use of a Commission of New Art, which recognises those sponsors who have had the vision to support the creation of new, original work in any arts medium and to use the commission effectively: the Southern African Music Rights Organisation Limited (SAMRO) for Princess Magogo – A Portrait. The same team was nominated in the category Single Project which focuses on an outstanding sponsorship or a series of projects with one organisation. Other KZN nominees in this category were Cell C for Durban Music School and the MTN Group Limited for Rorke’s Drift:Empowering Prints Exhibition.

The First Time Sponsor category includes a nomination for Waltons KZN for Children’s Literature Project.

Nominations for Media Sponsorship, for consistent support given by electronic or print media to the arts included The Witness Printing & Publishing Company for The Witness Hilton Arts Festival. The Festival also received nominatons for the Hilton Hotel and Spar KZN in the category Sponsorship in Kind, where a company gives non-financial but essential support to the arts.

Production Projects were also nominated for their support of the Fantastic Flying Fish Dance Company in the Sponsorship by a Small Business category. This is for smaller companies with 1,200 full-time employees and an annual turnover of no more than R10million, who give vital support to arts projects.

One of the most popular areas for arts sponsorship is that which involves education and/or young people. In the category Youth Sponsorship the nominees include Caltex Oil for Durban Black Drifers’ Isicathamiya High School Choir Competition and Cell C for the Durban Music School.

The awards will be presented on May 24 (this evening) to those businesses deemed most successful in achieving their objectives and, through this, benefiting the arts in South Africa. The judging panel includes Darryl Accone, Linda Givon, Dr Ivan May, Sizakele Marutlulle, Welcome Msomi, Fiona Ramsay and Annie Williamson. The voting process was monitored and audited by Clifford Amoils of Grant Thornton.

More information from BASA on 011 832 3000/3041 or e-mail info@basa.co.za